Convertible leash and harness system and method

ABSTRACT

A restraining apparatus for an animal including a combination of a leash and a harness to be used in conjunction with a collar. The restraining apparatus includes a ring defining an opening. A coupling element for fastening to a collar on the animal is mounted to the ring. A substantially rigid arm is mounted to the ring and extends to a free distal end spaced from the ring, with the arm forming a substantially elongated opening with the ring. A leash may be attached to the ring. When the restraining apparatus is applied to the animal as a harness, the coupling element is fastened to the collar, and the leash is wrapped around the torso of the animal, engages the arm at the elongated opening, and may freely slide and tighten around the torso of the animal.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/666,589, titled “CONVERTIBLE LEASH AND HARNESS SYSTEM ANDMETHOD”, filed Nov. 1, 2012, now currently pending, the contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The system disclosed herein relates generally to the field of leashes,collars, and harnesses for animals, and may particularly relate to asystem that may be used in conjunction with a collar that may be usefulfor controlling, restraining, or training a four-legged pet.

Pet owners and handlers generally prefer to be able to control theirpets while engaging in an activity such as walking the pet or while in alocation where movement of the pet needs to be restrained. For somepets, conventional collars may be inadequate to provide the degree ofcontrol that is desired. For example, a dog may pull on a leash attachedto a conventional collar to the point where the owner cannot control thedog, resulting in the dog controlling the movement of the owner, orresulting in an unpleasant or even dangerous situation for the owner.Alternatively, the owner may merely be unable to maintain the dog in adesired position, as the dog may not be responsive to resistance of theleash. In addition, the pet, whether a dog, cat, or other animal, mayhave a tendency to “slip” a conventional collar.

Various options are available in addition to conventional collars forcontrol of a pet, particularly dogs, including among them choke chains,prong collars, and Martingale collars. These devices, however, all applyforce only to the neck of the pet. Conventional harnesses provideadditional control of the torso of the pet, generally including loopsthat go around the front legs of the pet and that connect on the back ofthe pet, and cannot be slipped. Conventional harnesses, however, oftenrequire pulling a loop over the pet's head, connecting many fastenersthat can be confusing, and using multiple adjustment points. Many petowners do not like how time consuming and confusing such conventionalharnesses can be. In addition, conventional harnesses do not tighten inresponse to pulling of a leash.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment, a restraining apparatus is providedfor an animal having a head, a neck, a torso, a first pair ofappendages, and a second pair of appendages. The animal wears a collararound the neck, and the restraining apparatus includes a ring having alongitudinal axis and defining an opening. A coupling element is adaptedfor fastening to the collar and is mounted to the ring. A substantiallyrigid arm with a proximal end is mounted to the ring and extends to afree distal end spaced from the ring, with the arm forming asubstantially elongated opening with the ring.

In combination with the above embodiment, some embodiments are providedin which the arm extends away from the opening of the ring insubstantially the same plane as the ring, and in other embodiments thearm extends away from the opening of the ring to be substantiallynonplanar with the ring.

In any combination with any of the above embodiments, some embodimentsare provided that further include a leash attached to the ring at anattached end and extending to a free end, with the leash having a lengthand a width perpendicular to the length.

In any combination with any of the above embodiments, some embodimentsare provided in which the restraining apparatus may be configured aseither a leash or a harness.

In any combination with any of the above embodiments, some embodimentsare provided in which when the restraining apparatus is applied to theanimal as a harness, the coupling element of the harness adapter isfastened to the collar, and the leash is wrapped around he torso of theanimal between the first and second pairs of appendages, and the leashis received in the substantially elongated opening.

In any combination with any of the above embodiments, some embodimentsare provided in which the leash may slide substantially freely in thesubstantially elongated opening, allowing the leash to tighten aroundthe torso of the animal when the free end of the leash is pulled.

In any combination with any of the above embodiments, some embodimentsare provided in which when the restraining apparatus is applied to theanimal as a leash, the fastening means of the harness adapter isfastened to the collar, and the leash is not wrapped around the animal.

In any combination with any of the above embodiments, some embodimentsare provided that further include an adjustment clip slidably mounted tothe leash. In some such embodiments, when the restraining apparatus isapplied to the animal as a harness, the adjustment clip is positionedbetween the ring and the attached end of the leash to prevent the leashfrom becoming too tight around the animal. In some other suchembodiments, when the restraining apparatus is applied to the animal asa harness, the adjustment clip is positioned between the ring and thefree end of the leash to prevent the leash from becoming too loosearound the animal. In some embodiments, two adjustment clips may be usedsimultaneously to provide both functions; a first adjustment clip and asecond adjustment clip are slidably mounted to the leash, and when therestraining apparatus is applied to the animal as a harness, the firstadjustment clip is positioned between the ring and the attached end ofthe leash to prevent the leash from becoming too tight around theanimal, and the second adjustment clip is positioned between the ringand the free end of the leash to prevent the leash from becoming tooloose around the animal.

In any combination with any of the above embodiments, some embodimentsare provided that further include cushioning material attached to theleash along a central portion of the leash spaced from the free end andthe attached end.

In any combination with any of the above embodiments, some embodimentsare provided in which the width of the leash along a central portion ofthe length of the leash is greater that the width of the leash proximateto the ends of the leash.

In any combination with any of the above embodiments, some embodimentsare provided in which the substantially elongated opening is ofsubstantially constant width.

In any combination with any of the above embodiments, some embodimentsare provided in which the arm is attached to the ring at a position onthe ring substantially opposite the side of the ring to which thecoupling element is mounted.

In any combination with any of the above embodiments, some embodimentsare provided in which the arm includes a bend proximate to the freedistal end of the arm, the bend being transverse to the longitudinalaxis of the ring. In some such embodiments, the bend defines an interiorangle of less than 90 degrees.

In any combination with any of the above embodiments, some embodimentsare provided in which the arm includes a segment proximate to the freedistal end, the segment has a central axis, and the angle between thecentral axis of the segment and the longitudinal axis of the ring andthat is opposite the central axis of the segment from the ring isapproximately 90 degrees or less.

In any combination with any of the above embodiments, some embodimentsare provided in which the arm includes a retention feature proximate tothe free distal end of the arm. In some such embodiments, the retentionfeature is formed by a notch in the surface of the arm opposite the ringand proximate to the free distal end of the arm.

In accordance with another embodiment, a method of applying arestraining apparatus to an animal is provided. The animal has a head, aneck, a torso, a first pair of appendages, and a second pair ofappendages, and wears a collar around the neck. The restrainingapparatus includes a ring having a longitudinal axis and defining anopening, a coupling element adapted for fastening to the collar andbeing mounted to the ring, and a substantially rigid arm with a proximalend mounted to the ring and extending to a free distal end spaced fromthe ring. The arm forms a substantially elongated opening with the ring.A leash has a length, is attached to the ring at an attached end, andextends to a free end. The method includes releasably fastening thecoupling element to the collar, and wrapping the leash around the torsoof the animal between the first and second pairs of appendages. Theleash is inserted substantially laterally into the substantiallyelongated opening, and slides freely in the substantially elongatedopening, allowing the leash to tighten around the animal when the freeend of the leash is pulled.

In some such embodiments, the restraining apparatus further includes anadjustment clip slidably mounted to the leash, and when the restrainingapparatus is applied to the animal as a harness, the adjustment clip ispositioned between the ring and the attached end of the leash to preventthe leash from becoming too tight around the animal. The method furtherincludes sliding the adjustment clip along the length of the leash to aposition to prevent the leash from becoming too tight around the animal.In other such embodiments, the restraining apparatus further includes anadjustment clip slidably mounted to the leash, and when the restrainingapparatus is applied to the animal as a harness, the adjustment clip ispositioned between the ring and the free end of the leash to prevent theleash from becoming too loose around the animal. The method furthercomprises sliding the adjustment clip along the length of the leash to aposition to prevent the leash from becoming too loose around the animal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of embodiments of a convertible leashand harness for animals and associated methods, reference should now behad to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings and describedbelow. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a first embodiment of a convertibleleash and harness as secured to an exemplary animal as a harness.

FIG. 2 is top plan view of the convertible leash and harness of FIG. 1as secured to an exemplary animal as a harness.

FIG. 3 is left side perspective view of the convertible leash andharness of FIG. 1 as secured to an exemplary animal as a harness.

FIG. 4 is another left side perspective view of the convertible leashand harness of FIG. 1 as secured to an exemplary animal as a harness.

FIG. 5 is top plan view of the convertible leash and harness of FIG. 1as secured to an exemplary animal as a leash.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a harness adapter of the convertibleleash and harness of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is top plan view of the harness adapter of FIG. 5, with thebottom plan view being a mirror image thereof.

FIG. 8 is a left side elevation view of the harness adapter of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a right side elevation view of the harness adapter of FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the harness adapter of FIG. 5.

FIG. 11 is a rear elevation view of the harness adapter of FIG. 5.

FIG. 12 is an annotated front elevation view of the harness adapter ofFIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to betaken as a limitation on the embodiments described. For example, wordssuch as “top”, “bottom”, “front,” “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “right,”“horizontal,” “vertical,” “upward,” and “downward” merely describe theconfiguration shown in the figures. Indeed, the referenced componentsmay be oriented in any direction and the terminology, therefore, shouldbe understood as encompassing such variations unless specifiedotherwise. Throughout this disclosure, where a process or method isshown or described, the steps of the method may be performed in anyorder or simultaneously, unless it is clear from the context that onestep depends on another being performed first.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designatecorresponding or similar elements throughout the several views, anembodiment of an animal restraining apparatus that is a convertibleleash and harness 20 is shown in FIGS. 1-5 secured to an animal.Although in the figures herein the convertible leash and harness isshown secured to a dog, the convertible leash and harness 20 may beapplied to nearly any type of animal with four legs, or two arms and twolegs. For example, in addition to a dog, the convertible leash andharness 20 may be worn by a cat or a monkey. This embodiment of theconvertible leash and harness 20 may be used in conjunction with aconventional collar 22 worn by the animal 24, and may include a harnessadapter 30 and a leash 32.

The harness adapter 30 may include a coupling element 34, a ring 36, andan elongated arm member or arm 38 extending from the ring 36. Thecoupling element 34 of the harness adapter 30 may be releasably attachedto the collar 22 by attachment to a ring 40 that is secured to thecollar 22 to attach the harness adapter 30 to the collar 22.Alternatively, the coupling element 34 may be directly attached to thecollar 22. The ring 40 of the collar 22 is often a D-ring, but could becircular or another shape. The leash 32 may be, in one embodiment,similar to a conventional leash that is attached to the ring 36 of theharness adapter 30. This attachment may be a permanent attachment, inwhich, for example, the end of the leash 32 has been passed through thering 36 and is sewn, riveted, or otherwise attached to an adjacent partof the leash 32 to form a loop around the ring 36, as shown.Alternatively, the leash 32 could include a coupling element on the endof the leash 32 to releasably fasten the leash to the ring 36. The leashmay be in the form of a strap, being substantially flat, or could haveanother cross-sectional shape, such rectangular. The leash 32 may be,for example, a woven or webbing material, and may be made of nylon,plastic, cotton, hemp, leather, or other material. At the end distalfrom the end that is attached to the ring 36 there may be conventionallya loop 44 through which a hand may be inserted. When configured as aharness, the leash 32 wraps around the animal 24 and engages the harnessadapter 30, as discussed further below. Two adjustment clips 46, 48 maybe provided that selectively may slide along the leash 32 or be in afixed position along the leash 32, also as discussed further below.

FIG. 3 shows the leash 32 to include cushioning 54 that may be attachedto the leash 32 to be provided between the leash 32 and the animal 24along the sides and underside or torso of the animal 24. The cushioning54 may be, for example, foam, batting, or elastomeric material within afabric shell, or other resilient material. FIG. 4 shows a leash 32 thatmay be a strap and that may include a section 56 with increased widthalong the sides and underside or torso of the animal 24. The increasedwidth section 56 may serve to distribute force applied to the animal 24over an area greater than would be provided if the leash 32 remained aconstant, relatively narrow width. Both the cushioning 54 and theincreased width section 56 may help to avoid excessive “digging in” ofthe material into the animal 24, if that would be consideredundesirable, however, such features may be considered optional.

FIG. 5 shows the convertible leash and harness 20 secured to the dog foruse solely as a leash. As when the convertible leash and harness 20 isconfigured as a harness, the coupling element 34 of the harness adapter30 is releasably attached to the ring 40 of the collar 22, but the leash32 is not wrapped around the animal 24.

FIGS. 6-11 show various views of the harness adapter 30. The couplingelement 34 is shown as a bolt snap, but could be any structure thatserves to securely and releasably fasten the harness adapter 30 to thering 40 of the animal's collar 22. Examples of other coupling elementsthat could be used include spring hooks, slide bolt snap hooks, springwire gate bolt snap hooks, lobster claw gate bolt snap hooks, triggersnaps, and push gate snap hooks. The bolt snap shown includes a shank 60that at one end is mounted to the ring 36 of the harness adapter 30, ahook 62 extending from the opposite end of the shank 60 and forming anopening 64, and a latch 66 with a protrusion 68 extending therefrom. Thelatch 66 is retractable into an opening in the shank 60 when theprotrusion 68 is depressed, and the protrusion 68 slides in a slot 70 inthe shank 60. The latch is spring-biased and closes when the protrusion68 is released.

The shank 60 of the coupling element 34 may be in a fixed positionrelative to the ring 36, or alternatively may be swivel-mounted as inthe embodiment shown, allowing the coupling element 34 to rotate aboutthe axis of the shank 60. The ring 36 in the embodiment shown is asymmetrical trapezoid, with the base or front side 74 being the longestside, and the shape being symmetrical about the longitudinal axis X-X ofthe ring 36. Parallel to the front side 74 is the rear side 76. Leftside 78 and right side 80 taper from the front side 74 to the rear side76. An end of the shank 60 passes through an opening in an enlargedcentral portion 82 of the front side 74 and is secured with the swivelmounting 84. The shape of the ring 36 could be a variety of shapes otherthan a trapezoid, for example, D-ring, rectangular, circular, rounded,hexagonal, and so forth; the shape of the ring 36 is not intended to belimited to that shown.

The arm 38 may extend from the left end of the rear side 76 of the ring36, may be substantially rigid, and may be in a fixed position relativeto the ring 36. The arm 38 may be in substantially the same plane as thering 36 as shown, or may be non-planar relative to the ring 36. In theembodiment shown, the arm may have three segments: a first segment 90that may be attached to the lower left corner of the ring 36 and may bean extension of the rear side 76, then a first bend 92 frontward to asecond segment 94 that may be substantially parallel to the left side78, then a return bend 96 toward the longitudinal axis X-X with a thirdsegment 98 that may be substantially parallel to the front side 74 andhave a free distal end 100. The second segment 94 and the left side 78of the ring 36 form a substantially elongated opening or slot 102, whichmay be of substantially constant width as shown, or may vary in width.The third segment 98 and the front side 74 form an opening 106 thatserves as an entrance to the slot 102 for the leash 32.

As shown in FIG. 7, the leash 32 enters the opening 106 laterally, i.e.substantially perpendicular to the length of the leash 32, and bendsaround its length to follow a winding path 108 to reach the desiredposition in the slot 102. The leash 32 may be positioned withoutthreading the leash 32 through any components, and without any movingparts being involved. The angle of the return bend 96 tends to retainthe leash in the slot 102, and the angle of the first bend 92 tends toorient the arm 38 such that the leash 32 somewhat evenly distributes theforce applied across the left side 78 when the leash is on the animal.The free distal end 100 of the arm 38, the interior radius formed by theleft side 78 of the ring 36 and the first segment of the 90 of the arm38, and the interior radii of the bends 92, 96 of the arm 38 may berounded and smooth to prevent the leash from catching on the harnessadapter 30. The shape of the arm 38 may vary, and may need to be varied,depending on the shape of the ring 36.

In FIG. 12, a notch 110 has been added to the interior of the arm 38proximate to the free distal end 100 of the embodiment of a harnessadapter 30 that is shown. The notch 110 may provide an additionalrestraining feature to prevent unintentional withdrawal of the leash 32from the slot 102 and opening 106. The notch 110 may be shaped to causethe leash 32 to catch on the distal side of the notch 110 when the leash32 is being pulled away from the harness adapter 30 (or when the harnessadapter 30 is being pulled away from the leash 32). Alternatively, ahook could be added to the free distal end 100 of the arm 38.

FIG. 12 also highlights various dimensions and angles for the shownembodiment of a harness adapter 30. The angle a at return bend 96 maypreferably be less than 90 degrees, is shown at approximately 76degrees, and may be, for example, between 70 and 85 degrees, but willvary depending on the angle that the second segment 94 is relative tothe longitudinal axis X-X. The angle θ, which is the angle between theaxis Y-Y of the third segment 98 and the longitudinal axis X-X is shownat approximately 90 degrees, and may preferably be 90 degrees or less tohelp retain the leash 32 in the slot 102. Dimensions for two exampleembodiments are as follows. For an example of a relatively small harnessadapter dimensions may be approximately, for a ⅝″ wide woven leash:A=0.55″, B=0.625″, C=0.1875″, D=0.1875″, E=0.86″, F=1.5″. For an exampleof a relatively large harness adapter dimensions may be approximately,for a 1″ wide woven leash: A=0.9″, B=1.0″, C=0.1875″, D=0.1875″, E=1.4″,F=2.0″. One possible dimension could be that the width (C) of the slot102 may be equal to the thickness of the leash 32 plus ⅛″. The anglesand dimensions discussed, however, may vary in different embodimentsfrom those discussed herein.

The materials of the harness adapter 30 maybe as suitable for the forcesencountered in use; conventionally the material is steel for couplingelements such as bolt snaps as well as rings. One example of a materialfor the ring 36 and the arm 38 is round stock steel, 3/16″ diameter,which is cast, welded, or a combination of both. However, the ring 36and the arm 38 could be other materials, cross-sectional shapes, ordimensions.

The convertible leash and harness 20 may be applied to an animal in oneexemplary manner as follows, noting that designations of left and rightand the direction of putting on the convertible leash and harness 20 maybe reversed by turning the harness adapter 30 the other direction thanthat shown to place the arm 38 on the right side rather than the left.The animal is wearing a collar that may be relatively snug but notconstrict the animal's neck. First, the harness adapter 30 is attachedto the ring 40 of the collar, and is placed on the back of the animal tolie flat in a position that may be between the shoulder blades of theanimal, in a position that may look like that shown in FIG. 5. Next, theleash 32 is wrapped down the animal's right side, under the animal'schest/torso behind the animal's front legs, and up the animal's leftside. Then the leash 32 is placed alongside the opening 106 formed bythe arm 38 and the ring 36 and is inserted laterally into the opening106. The leash 32 may need to bend along its length in order to reachthe substantially elongated opening or slot 102. Once in the slot 102,the leash 32 is relatively free to slide in either direction along thelength of the leash 32 in the slot 102, and may be pulled up to be snugon the animal.

If there is no force applied to the leash 32, either by the animalpulling or the handler pulling on the leash 32, the leash may loosen,and if force is applied, the leash 32 will tighten around the animal 24.Accordingly, if provided, one adjustment clip 46 may be adjusted toprevent the leash 32 from extending to far through the harness adapter30 and becoming too loose, and the other adjustment clip 48 may beadjusted to prevent the leash 32 from becoming too tight on the animal24. The clips 46, 48 may be sized such that they cannot fit through theopening formed by the arm 38 and the ring 36, so that when a clip 46, 48abuts the harness adapter 30 the leash can no longer continue in thesame direction. While shown as having three bars that extend across theleash 32, the clips 46, 48 may be any structure that may selectivelyslide along the leash 32 or grip the leash 32 and not slide.

Embodiments disclosed herein may provide a convertible leash and harnesssystem including a ring and arm that may engage a leash with no movingparts. The leash may be laterally urged into a slot in a harness adapterwithout the need to thread the leash through a ring or other component,or the use of components with moving parts. The leash may tighten orloosen on the animal depending on whether there is force on the leash orthe leash is relaxed, and such relatively free movement of the leashthrough the slot in the harness adapter may aid in controlling,restraining, or training the animal.

Although the embodiments described above have been shown and describedin considerable detail with respect to only a few exemplary embodimentsthereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that it isnot intended to be limited to these embodiments since variousmodifications, omissions and additions may be made to the disclosedembodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings andadvantages. For example, the leash may be permanently attached to thering of harness adapter, or the harness adapter and the leash could beprovided separately, with the leash being releasably fastened to thering. As previously noted, the shape of the ring of the harness adaptermay be different than described above, and accordingly the shape of thearm may have to be different in order to function with a different shapering. Accordingly, it is intended to cover all such modifications,omission, additions and equivalents as may be included within the scopeof the convertible leash and harness system and associated methods asdefined by the following claims. In the claims, means-plus-functionclauses are intended to cover the structures described herein asperforming the recited function and not only structural equivalents butalso equivalent structures. Thus, although a nail and a screw may not bestructural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface tosecure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface,in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may beequivalent structures.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of applying a restraining apparatus toan animal, the animal having a head, a neck, a torso, a first pair ofappendages, and a second pair of appendages, the animal wearing a collararound the neck, the restraining apparatus comprising a ring having alongitudinal axis and defining an opening, a coupling element adaptedfor fastening to the collar, the coupling element mounted to the ring, asubstantially rigid arm with a proximal end mounted to the ring andextending to a free distal end spaced from the ring, the arm forming asubstantially elongated opening with the ring, and a leash attached tothe ring at an attached end and extending to a free end, the leashhaving a length, the method comprising: releasably fastening thecoupling element to the collar; wrapping the leash around the torso ofthe animal between the first and second pairs of appendages; andinserting the leash substantially laterally into the substantiallyelongated opening, wherein the leash slides freely in the substantiallyelongated opening, allowing the leash to tighten around the animal whenthe free end of the leash is pulled.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinthe restraining apparatus further comprises an adjustment clip slidablymounted to the leash, and when the restraining apparatus is applied tothe animal as a harness, the adjustment clip is positioned between thering and the attached end of the leash to prevent the leash frombecoming too tight around the animal, and the method further comprisessliding the adjustment clip along the length of the leash to a positionto prevent the leash from becoming too tight around the animal.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the restraining apparatus further comprisesan adjustment clip slidably mounted to the leash, and when therestraining apparatus is applied to the animal as a harness, theadjustment clip is positioned between the ring and the free end of theleash to prevent the leash from becoming too loose around the animal,and the method further comprises sliding the adjustment clip along thelength of the leash to a position to prevent the leash from becoming tooloose around the animal.